NBA
My Favorite Kobe: Sneaker Free Agency Season
By Justin Nixon
February 27, 2020
GETTY IMAGES | JUSBALLOUT ILLUSTRATION
As a fan we’ve seen many versions of Kobe Bryant, but my personal favorite; has to be the 02-03 Kobe. After winning three titles, his confidence was at an all-time high. Only a few players in NBA history have won three titles before the age of 25, and Kobe is the most notable. The season saw Bryant play all 82 games for the first time in his career. However, his partner in crime Shaquille O’Neal was sidelined for 12 games due to an off-season foot surgery. The Lakers started the season 3-9.
Bryant averaged 29.4 points, 9 rebounds and 6.assists per game during the absence of the big fella…but the Lakers as a team just couldn’t make up the difference in scoring, Imagine in today’s game, averaging 89 points per game… not nearly enough… right? The Lakers were missing at least 30 points in offense.
Shaq returned to the lineup in late November and the Lakers were still struggling after 30 games into the season. The Big Diesel’s fuel tank was not all the way full and the team hadn’t found their winning stride yet. Nevertheless, Kobe was still an energetic 24 year-old kid with a lot to prove, so Shaq leaned on the young man a lot, but wasn’t ready to relinquish his hold on the team.
CONVERSE WEAPONS
On January 29, 2003, Kobe “Bean” Bryant began his historic streak of 16 consecutive games with at least 30 points. Kobe averaged 40 points on 47% shooting during this aggressive stretch of basketball. You can tell he had a point to prove to himself, his teammates, and the basketball enthusiast around the world… that he was more than just Batman’s Robin.
Kobe’s 7th season is most notable through his style and grace on the court. His sneakers matched his play. After the summer of 2002, Kobe paid a reported $8 million dollars to get out of his Adidas contract. However, the conditions of the buyout declared that Kobe couldn’t sign with another brand until 2003. This agreement birthed Kobe’s “sneaker free agency season”.
AIR JORDAN 8 RETRO
The ecstatic fans were able to see Kobe in their favorite sneakers. Every night was a mystery! If you missed the game the night before; Sports center was definitely on your radar. Kobe was seen in a variety of sneakers, such as the Reebok Questions, Air Jordans like the III, IV and VII, an in-line model from AND1 and even a PE pair of mid top Air Force ones.
The season was filled with up and downs for the Los Angeles Lakers, including not winning their fourth straight NBA title. The Lakers were eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals by the San Antonio Spurs.
Kobe showed love to a lot of sneaker brands during the season, but Kobe was definitely destined to be a Nike athlete. During the summer of 2003, Bryant signed a reported 5-year deal worth $40 million. Like I said before, there are many versions of Kobe Bryant….Whats yours?
